A father's Faith After Losing His Daughter

This Anzac Day, a letter came into my hands that I can’t stop thinking about. The First World War had officially ended in November 1918, but soldiers were still making their way home throughout 1919. It was during this time that grieving father sat down to write to a young soldier named Nev. His Fiancée had suddenly passed away from pneumonic influenza – the deadly Spanish Flu that swept across Australia in 1919.

The letter was written with such tenderness and faith, that even 105 years later, it still moved me deeply.

Here’s the letter in full:

June 23rd, 1919

Dear Nev,

I have one of the most sorrowful duties to perform that can fall to the lot of any man living; and that is to give you the news that will cast a gloom and sadness over all your future life; but I know that as you have proved yourself a man on the battlefield of France, so now you will prove yourself a man in this, the greatest trial of your life.

Nev, old man, Our beloved Edna has passed peacefully away to that land “where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest”. This awful disease, pneumonic influenza, suddenly seized her on Friday, (after she had written her last letter to you). After a week’s illness, so patiently borne, – after we had done all that it was possible to do, and after a second doctor had been called in, she gently and suddenly entered into rest.

How I thank God that she was spared that awful suffering that falls to the lot of so many who suffer from this dread disease. We laid her to rest on Saturday afternoon, until that day when the Lord shall descend from heaven, when the dead in Christ shall rise first, and we, – the faithful living ones, shall rise with them to meet our Lord in the air. Nev, old man, she is not lost; she has only gone before, only for a little while.

Our hearts are sad; the light has gone out of our home; – we want you to come and help us to bear it. But does it not seem strange? there is a deep peace, a peace this world cannot give or take away.

We have proved the truth of those words, “When thou passest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned.” Yes, He could have saved us from going into the fire, but He does more; He saves us, purifies us in the midst of the fire.

But, laddie, our hearts are aching for you. All your plans upset, and for a while you may think that God has dealt hardly with you, but wait; later on you will be led to yield yourself more fully to Him, and in the glory you will praise Him through all eternity for life’s disappointments and sorrows.

Poor Ray does not yet know the sad news. He has been discharged from the military, and is spending his holiday at Clunes, Victoria. I wrote to him last night, hoping you would come home with him. It may be you would like to make your home with us. If so, it is always ready for you, and you can be our boy as well as Ray.

The money you sent to Edna is all banked in her name, and you must have it transferred to you. There may be some legal difficulties about it, but no doubt they can be overcome, and you don’t want to be bothered with them now.

Next Sunday night there is to be a Memorial Service for Grandma and Edna. I am praying that the home-going of both of them may lead some to make the great decision to take Jesus as their Saviour.

I have just written a note to your aunt at Marylands, telling her the sad news. It will be a great shock to her. Edna had written a letter to her as well as you on the day of her seizure.

Now don’t let us sorrow as those who have no hope. He’s coming soon to take us to be with Him forever. –

O blessed hope, with this elate,

let not our hearts be desolate,

but strong in faith and patient wait until He come.

Mother sends her love to her boy. No, I will say more than that. We send our love to our boy. Esma sends her love to her brother, Nev.

The Lord bless and keep and make you strong.

A. Matthews

P.S. The teachers will not be coming here again.

Years later, the soldier married his late fiancée’s younger sister. She carefully retyped this letter and had it bound in a book to preserve the story for her family. I now have the privilege of walking alongside their daughter – a beautiful and faithful Christian woman.

What makes this letter even more powerful is that the man who wrote it was not a minister or a pastor. He was simply a humble builder – an ordinary working man.

Yet in his darkest moment, his words carried the heart of a true shepherd of faith.

Real courage is not only found on the battlefield. Sometimes it is found in an ordinary man’s pen, trusting God even when he has just buried his child.

Lest we forget.